How to Hang Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds can do a lot for a room. They add a clean and streamlined appearance as well as keep out the glaring sun that heats up the room. The blinds can also add color to the room if you go with the wooden or decorative blinds. Follow these instructions to learn how to hang vertical blinds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check to make sure all of the necessary hardware came with your blinds. If it did not or you did not buy the blinds, then go to a home store such as Home Depot or Lowe's. The courtesy clerks can guide you to the right spot.

2. Place the tape measure on the floor and measure up to your window, then add a quarter inch to this measurement. Mark this spot. This is where you will place the top screw.

3. Position the installation bracket 3 to 4 inches from each end of the head rail on the wall. Screw in the bracket. Install additional brackets across the handrail spaced equally apart and tighten all of the screw securely.

4. Decide what side you would like the control chain and traverse cord to hang on. Center the head rail to the mounting clips and insert the front lip of it into the groove located at the front of the clips. Turn the back of the head rail until it clicks in to the back of the clip and repeat for each clip.

5. Open the blinds so that the vane holders are spaced apart evenly. Turn the chain until the stem openings face toward you and snap in all the vanes so that the curves face the same way.

6. Attach the tension pulley to the bottom of your baseboard. Put the loop of your vertical cord through the top of the pulley. Pull the tension cord until the tension pulley becomes tight with a small pull on the string.

7. Mark the cord at this spot in the track using a pencil. Release the cord from the pulley, pull it out again and tie a knot in this spot. Put the loop back in the pulley and try to open and close the blinds. If they work properly cut the extra cord below the knot.

[brenniek]

on 11/24/2008 I have a question about verticle blinds and maybe someone out there can answer. I am trying to figure out how to cut costs and in doing so I have found that I can cut each slat in half and use them that way but, I can find anyone who can tell me what I should use to cut the hole in the remaning peice of slat. Anyone out there have an idea. I can't just cut a round hole because the place where it conncets to the headrail is oblong. HELP

[monkeyweather]

on 6/23/2008 Word of warning - if you are planning on selling your home in the near future, vertical blinds are considered to be outdated (an "80's thing") in a lot of markets.
If you love verticals and will be in that home for many years to come - go for it.
But if you decide to sell, an honest and knowledgeable realtor would tell you to remove them or suffer a significant drop in value. Outdated lighting and window treatments really affect value - way more than the cost to cure the problem. So just be sure - before you pay mucho bucks to install verticals - that you will not be selling for a very long time!